25 highest paid athletes in the world

April 15, 2014 |John Boyd

ESPN crossed continents and genres to find the best paid athletes on the planet. Here are its Top 25.

Donna McWilliam/Associated Press

And he ain't one of them ...

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Less than 15 years ago, Alex Rodriguez shocked the sports world by signing with the Texas Rangers for a then-unheard of deal amounting to roughly $25.2 million per year ($252 million over 10 years). That same record-breaking contract today, however, wouldn't even put A-Rod in the sports world's Top 15.

Here's who made ESPN's full Top 25, based on current base salary or prize money (i.e. no endorsements).

Donna McWilliam/Associated Press

And he ain't one of them ...

1of26

Less than 15 years ago, Alex Rodriguez shocked the sports world by signing with the Texas Rangers for a then-unheard of deal amounting to roughly $25.2 million per year ($252 million over 10 years). That same record-breaking contract today, however, wouldn't even put A-Rod in the sports world's Top 15.

Here's who made ESPN's full Top 25, based on current base salary or prize money (i.e. no endorsements).